Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan KBE (April 16, 1918 – February 27, 2002) was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier, and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the British government declared him stateless. He was the co-creator, main writer and a principal cast member of The Goon Show, performing a range of roles including the popular Eccles.